Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says President Donald Trump’s proposed tax overhaul would be “not conservative” because it does not cut taxes on the wealthy, but he’s not ready to say whether it’s the best approach to address the country’s ballooning deficits.
McConnell was pressed by reporters Sunday on whether his own Republican colleagues would be willing to vote for the bill, which Trump unveiled Monday.
“We’ve got a lot of Republicans that we want to get our votes for,” McConnell said.
“We’re not ready for the vote yet.
But, yes, it’s not conservative.
It’s not a magic formula. “
I think that it’s just too complicated.
It’s not a magic formula.
We’ll have a conversation. “
But I do think that this is a good starting point.
We’ll have a conversation.
And if it’s a good start, we’ll go from there.”
The Senate passed the House version of the bill last month and it has now gone to the White House for the president to sign.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R, Texas) said last week that he expects a final bill will include a “modest” increase in tax rates for the wealthy and corporations.
McConnell’s statement Sunday is the first time McConnell has said Trump’s plan could not be the best way to address our national debt.
“I don’t think it is,” McConnell told reporters.
“What I am saying is, we are going to have a discussion.
We will see if we are on the right path or if we’re going to get there.
I’m not ready right now to give an endorsement to the bill yet.”
McConnell has repeatedly pushed for a bipartisan tax bill, but has been unable to win support from his own party.
In December, the GOP’s top GOP leaders said they were not ready.